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Rolex Sydney Hobart - Can Alfa Romeo spoil the party for Wild Oats XI?

by Susan Maffei Plowden on 17 Dec 2009
Wild Oats XI sailing to 3rd line honours win - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2007 Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi http://www.carloborlenghi.net
The world's biggest and best assembly of maxi yachts in recent times will contest this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Seven of them will be on the start line, and five have a real chance of leading the fleet of 100 entries into Hobart in the 65th running of the Australian 628-nautical mile ocean-racing classic, which starts at 1300 AEST on Boxing Day, December 26.

Race record-holder Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI, chasing her fifth consecutive line honours win, faces strongest competition from Neville Crichton's near sister Reichel/Pugh designed Alfa Romeo, and Mike Slade's Rolex Fastnet Race record holder ICAP Leopard, a Farr design from the UK.

The Greg Elliott-designed Investec Loyal (Sean Langman) and Etihad Stadium (Grant Wharington), the Don Jones design that formerly raced as Skandia Wild Thing, also have line honours ambitions, although Etihad Stadium's chances of making the start hang in the balance. On the delivery trip from Melbourne to Sydney last week, Etihad Stadium's mast broke and 'never-say-die' Wharington is desperately trying to have a replacement - Alfa Romeo's, spare mast - air freighted from France in time for the race start.

All these maxis are canting-keel powered. Leopard, Wild Oats XI, Alfa Romeo and Loyal have been lengthened from 98ft overall to 100ft, to the new maximum length allowed for the Rolex Fastnet and Rolex Sydney Hobart Races.

The competition between these five boats should help to push one of them, given favourable downwind running conditions, to break the race record which stands at 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes, 10 seconds, set by Wild Oats XI in 2005.

The head of the fleet duel between Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo has been ongoing and close for four years. At their first meeting, Wild Oats XI beat Alfa Romeo by an hour and 16 minutes in her 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours win. Their duel continued in the Mediterranean in 2006 where Alfa Romeo won the 2006 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, with Wild Oats third.



In the 2007 Med season, the two yachts swapped line honours dominance at the Giraglia Rolex Cup and Superyacht Cup at Palma. Then Alfa Romeo took line honours from Oats by 38sec in the first race of the 2007 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup; but, two minutes after the start of race two, Oats' mast fell down, taking the boat out of the regatta.

While Wild Oats XI returned to Australia, Alfa Romeo stayed on in the Med for the 2008 season. This year, Sydney-based New Zealander Neville Crichton brought Alfa Romeo back to Australia, on the way taking line honours in the 2,225 nm Transpac Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, with a time of 5 days, 14hrs, 36mins that broke the race record by more than a day.

Prior to the Transpac, Alfa Romeo put in a new, lighter mast and rigging from Southern Spars, that offers less windage, but otherwise there have been no major changes to the boat. Said Crichton, 'There have been little changes that add up to seconds a mile. We tried to pull weight out wherever possible and we have some new sails.'

Crichton sees Alfa Romeo and Wild Oats XI as the most reliable boats of the five line honours favourites. 'In a heavy southerly, Leopard would have the advantage. Heavy air running would suit Etihad Stadium; Wild Oats XI and ourselves are more all-rounders.'

Despite being lengthened to 100ft, Wild Oats XI will sail with fewer crew, 18 instead of last year's 24 which, notes skipper and helmsman Mark Richards, will represent a weight saving of over one ton in crew baggage and body weight. While numbers are reduced, they still sport an all-star lineup with the likes of Volvo winner and ISAF Rolex World Sailor Mike Sanderson, Robbie Naismith, Ian Murray, Adrienne Cahalan, and Ian Burns onboard.

Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo were matched equally in speed in the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge; around the 14nm course in Sydney Harbour on Tuesday, the pair were seldom more than two boat lengths apart at each mark rounding in a fair 15-18 knot nor'easter. Alfa Romeo gained the winning lead only when Oats' wine-glassed her spinnaker when hoisting at the last mark.

'There is nothing between the two boats in speed,' said Wild Oats XI Richards. 'In the Hobart it could come down to sail selection and sail changes.'

At the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race, ICAP Leopard, a powerful Farr design, built by McConaghy in Sydney, in her first major long-distance race, smashed the record by 8 hrs, 50min, while Alfa Romeo was among the retirements in that edition's rough seas and 40 knot winds.

ICAP Leopard finished 27 minutes behind Wild Oats XI in the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart after applying pressure all the way, and won line honours again this year in both the Rolex Fastnet and the Rolex Middle Sea Races.

In 2007, she was lengthened to 100ft and fitted with twin rudders - and for Hobart the boat has a new sail wardrobe. 'Ninety per cent of the sails we will be using in this race are brand-new,' says boat captain Chris Sherlock.

The crew includes strong afterguard professionals from Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup teams: navigator Jules Salter, watch captains Brad Jackson and Rob Greenhalgh, and tactician Ray Davies. All were aboard for this year's Rolex Fastnet and Rolex Middle Sea Races.

The fleet - the second strongest in a decade - includes 12 overseas yachts. Among them is another maxi the 100ft Rapture, a Farr-designed performance cruiser owned by American Brook Lenfest. The Sparkman & Stephens 41 Pinta-M, (Atse Blei) from the Netherlands remained in Australia since the 2008 race (where she finished third in IRC division 4), and will have another crack at the Tattersalls' Cup.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet will have crews representing the USA, UK, New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands, and New Caledonia as well as every Australian state. .

Here is the Line Honours Results table from 2009.

  YACHT NAME LAT  LONG  DTG  SOG  COG  TIME & SPEED

LINE HONOURS Overall
1 Wild Oats XI Finished   01:20:34:14   14.1           
M Richards (4) NSW    28 Dec, 9:34am  
2 Skandia Finished   01:21:41:17   13.8           
Grant Wharington (2) VIC    28 Dec, 10:41am  
3 Ichi Ban Finished   01:22:28:10   13.5           
Matt Allen (19) NSW    28 Dec, 11:28am  
4 ASM Shockwave 5 Finished   01:22:57:30   13.4           
Andrew Short (15) NSW    28 Dec, 11:57am  
5 Limit Finished   01:23:05:58   13.3           
Alan Brierty (5) WA    28 Dec, 12:05pm  
6 Black Jack Finished   01:23:19:31   13.3           
Mark Bradford (3) QLD    28 Dec, 12:19pm  
7 Loki Finished   01:23:29:50   13.2           
Stephen Ainsworth (11) NSW    28 Dec, 12:29pm  
8 Yendys Finished   02:00:57:05   12.8           
Geoff Ross (13) NSW    28 Dec, 1:57pm  
9 Quest Finished   02:01:00:37   12.8           
Bob Steel (17) NSW    28 Dec, 2:00pm  
10 Wot Now Finished   02:01:10:26   12.8           
Graeme Wood (3) NSW    28 Dec, 2:10pm  
11 Cougar II Finished   02:01:12:29   12.8           
Alan Whiteley (2) VIC    28 Dec, 2:12pm  
12 Ragamuffin Finished   02:01:46:37   12.6           
Syd Fischer (39) NSW    28 Dec, 2:46pm  
13 Quantum Racing Finished   02:02:30:26   12.4           
Ray Roberts (16) NSW    28 Dec, 3:30pm  
14 Secret Mens Business 3 Finished   02:07:10:28   11.4           
Geoff Boettcher (19) SA    28 Dec, 8:10pm  
15 Getaway-Sailing.com Finished   02:07:47:13   11.3           
S Price (4) NSW    28 Dec, 8:47pm  
16 Wot Yot Finished   02:08:57:31   11.0           
Bill Sykes (20) NSW    28 Dec, 9:57pm  
17 ASM Brindabella Finished   02:11:00:29   10.6           
P Baker NSW    29 Dec, 12:00am  
18 Ragtime* Finished   02:12:33:15   10.4           Redress
Chris Welsh USA    29 Dec, 1:33am  
19 Audi Centre Melbourne Finished   02:12:53:42   10.3           
Chris Dare (7) VIC    29 Dec, 1:53am  
20 Chutzpah Finished   02:15:22:20   9.9           
Bruce Taylor (27) VIC    29 Dec, 4:22am  
21 Wedgetail Finished   02:15:37:30   9.9           
Bill Wild (4) QLD    29 Dec, 4:37am  
22 Goldfinger Finished   02:15:44:20   9.9           
Peter Blake (6) VIC    29 Dec, 4:44am  
23 Pirelli Finished   02:16:39:43   9.7           
Les Goodridge (4) NSW    29 Dec, 5:39am  
24 Pale Ale Rager Finished   02:16:42:56   9.7           
Gary Shanks (8) SA    29 Dec, 5:42am  
25 Sailors With Disabilities Finished   02:22:11:48   9.0           
David Pescud (17) NSW    29 Dec, 11:11am  
26 Optimus Prime Finished   02:23:43:21   8.8           
Trevor Taylor (2) WA    29 Dec, 12:43pm  
27 Rush Finished   03:00:28:32   8.7           
John Paterson (8) VIC    29 Dec, 1:28pm  
28 Telcoinabox Merit* Finished   03:01:58:58   8.5           Redress
Leo Rodriguez QLD    29 Dec, 2:58pm  
29 Krakatoa II Finished   03:02:34:44   8.4           
Rod Skellet NSW    29 Dec, 3:34pm  
30 Tow Truck Finished   03:03:52:33   8.3           
Anthony Paterson (7) NSW    29 Dec, 4:52pm  
31 Terra Firma Finished   03:05:48:02   8.1           
Nicholas Bartels (6) VIC    29 Dec, 6:48pm  
32 AFR Midnight Rambler Finished   03:06:30:38   8.0           
Ed Psaltis (27) NSW    29 Dec, 7:30pm  
33 Valheru Finished   03:06:39:36   8.0           
Anthony Lyall (6) TAS    29 Dec, 7:39pm  
34 Balance Finished   03:12:24:35   7.4           
Paul Clitheroe (2) NSW    30 Dec, 1:24am  
35 Lady Courrier Finished   03:12:51:33   7.4           
Gery Trentesaux France    30 Dec, 1:51am  
36 Pla Loma IV Finished   03:12:59:45   7.4           
Rob Reynolds (5) NSW    30 Dec, 1:59am  
37 Strewth Finished   03:13:09:02   7.4           
Geoff Hill (9) NSW    30 Dec, 2:09am  
38 Mr Beaks Ribs Finished   03:13:30:58   7.3           
David Beak (5) NSW    30 Dec, 2:30am  
39 St Jude Finished   03:14:16:26   7.3           
Noel Cornish (1) NSW    30 Dec, 3:16am  
40 Mahligai Finished   03:15:02:02   7.2           
Murray Owen (2) NSW    30 Dec, 4:02am  
41 Dream Lover Finished   03:15:06:44   7.2           
Rick Morgan QLD    30 Dec, 4:06am  
42 Morris Finance Cinquante Finished   03:15:33:56   7.2           
Ian Murray VIC    30 Dec, 4:33am  
43 Walross 4 Finished   03:15:40:25   7.2           
Chrisitian Masilge Germany    30 Dec, 4:40am  
44 The SubZero Goat Finished   03:16:01:28   7.1           
Mitchell Gordon NSW    30 Dec, 5:01am  
45 Eleni Finished   03:16:10:21   7.1           
Tony Levett (4) NSW    30 Dec, 5:10am  
46 Broadsword Finished   03:16:13:28   7.1           
Simon Wood NSW    30 Dec, 5:13am  
47 Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo Finished   03:16:13:40   7.1           
Mike Freebairn (5) QLD    30 Dec, 5:13am  
48 J Steel (Yeah Baby) Finished   03:16:17:53   7.1           
Marc Ryckmans (4) NSW    30 Dec, 5:17am  
49 Quetzalcoatl Finished   03:16:32:24   7.1           
Antony Sweetapple (6) NSW    30 Dec, 5:32am  
50 Patrice Six Finished   03:16:32:56   7.1           
Tony Kirby (26) NSW    30 Dec, 5:32am  
51 Typhoon Finished   03:16:33:40   7.1           
Barry Kelly NSW    30 Dec, 5:33am  
52 She's The Culprit Finished   03:16:35:21   7.1           
Todd Leary TAS    30 Dec, 5:35am  
53 Jus' do it 3 Finished   03:16:38:04   7.1           
Ian Darby Scotland, UK    30 Dec, 5:38am  
54 Obsession Finished   03:16:45:28   7.1           
Andrew Lygo (6) NSW    30 Dec, 5:45am  
55 41 SUD Finished   03:16:46:58   7.1           
Jean-Luc Esplaas New Caledonia    30 Dec, 5:46am  
56 True North Finished   03:16:47:54   7.1           
Andrew Saies (3) SA    30 Dec, 5:47am  
57 Mustang Sally Finished   03:17:04:38   7.1           
Warren Batt New Zealand    30 Dec, 6:04am  
58 Pisces Finished   03:17:09:44   7.0           
David Taylor (11) TAS    30 Dec, 6:09am  
59 Dormit INSX Finished   03:17:13:24   7.0           
Robert Sill (14) VIC    30 Dec, 6:13am  
60 Time Lord Finished   03:17:15:03   7.0           
Donald Munro New Zealand    30 Dec, 6:15am  
61 Wild Side Finished   03:17:18:09   7.0           
Martin Vaughan (2) VIC    30 Dec, 6:18am  
62 Secret Men's Business 1 Finished   03:17:49:58   7.0           
Ross Trembath (12) / Rob Curtis (3) NSW    30 Dec, 6:49am  
63 Abracadabra Finished   03:17:56:39   7.0           
James Murchison (5) NSW    30 Dec, 6:56am  
64 Kioni - Global Yacht Racing Finished   03:18:06:43   7.0           
Andy Middleton NSW    30 Dec, 7:06am  
65 Copernicus Finished   03:18:11:48   7.0           
Greg Zyner (1) NSW    30 Dec, 7:11am  
66 Papillon Finished   03:18:16:12   7.0           
Phil Molony (19) NSW    30 Dec, 7:16am  
67 Helsal IV Finished   03:18:21:37   7.0           
Sally Smith TAS    30 Dec, 7:21am  
68 Flying Fish Arctos Finished   03:18:23:46   7.0           
J Dobie (1) / A Fairclough (3) NSW    30 Dec, 7:23am  
69 Winsome Finished   03:18:54:51   6.9           
Harry J Heijst The Netherlands    30 Dec, 7:54am  
70 Lloyds Brokers - Too Impetuous Finished   03:19:53:23   6.8           
Rudy Weber QLD    30 Dec, 8:53am  
71 Jazz Player Finished   03:21:01:05   6.8           
Mark Lawrence (3) VIC    30 Dec, 10:01am  
72 Pinta - M Finished   03:22:27:51   6.7           
Atse Blei Netherlands    30 Dec, 11:27am  
73 Audacious Finished   03:22:43:55   6.6           
Greg Clinnick (1) VIC    30 Dec, 11:43am  
74 Aurora Finished   03:23:46:00   6.6           
Jim Holley (20) NSW    30 Dec, 12:46pm  
75 One For The Road Finished   03:23:47:23   6.6           
Kym Butler (1) NSW    30 Dec, 12:47pm  
76 CHorse Finished   04:00:10:23   6.5           
John Smith NSW    30 Dec, 1:10pm  
77 Salona Finished   04:00:14:45   6.5           
Phillip King (8) NSW    30 Dec, 1:14pm  
78 Impeccable Finished   04:00:45:58   6.5           
John Walker (24) NSW    30 Dec, 1:45pm  
79 Chance of Shenval Finished   04:00:48:01   6.5           
Robert Green (24) VIC    30 Dec, 1:48pm  
80 Finistere Finished   04:00:59:38   6.5           
Robert Thomas WA    30 Dec, 1:59pm  
81 Bacardi Finished   04:03:34:54   6.3           
Martin Power (6) VIC    30 Dec, 4:34pm  
82 Pippin Finished   04:04:21:06   6.3           
Roger Sayers (5) QLD    30 Dec, 5:21pm  
83 Seahold Perie Banou II Finished   04:04:48:14   6.2           
Jon Sanders (5) WA    30 Dec, 5:48pm  
84 Chancellor Finished   04:04:49:21   6.2           
Ted Tooher (3) NSW    30 Dec, 5:49pm  
85 Isabella Finished   04:05:28:16   6.2           
J Nolan (2) NSW    30 Dec, 6:28pm  
86 Charlie's Dream Finished   04:05:28:58   6.2           
Peter Lewis QLD    30 Dec, 6:28pm  
87 She Finished   04:05:46:56   6.2           
Peter Rodgers (12) NSW    30 Dec, 6:46pm  
88 Inca Finished   04:09:32:15   6.0           
Noel Sneddon (4)/ Rob Saunders (6) ACT    30 Dec, 10:32pm  
89 Maluka of Kermandie Finished   04:13:49:05   5.7           
Sean Langman (17) NSW    31 Dec, 2:49am  
90 Getaway Sailing 2 Finished   04:15:05:00   5.7           
J Pettifer NSW    31 Dec, 4:05am  
91 Polaris of Belmont Finished   04:21:19:23   5.4           
Chrs Dawe (4) NSW    31 Dec, 10:19am  
92 Nest Property Finished   05:03:42:52   5.1           
Murray Wilkes TAS    31 Dec, 4:42pm  
  Helsal III* Retired - at Port               
Rob Fisher (15) TAS      
  Inner Circle* Retired - at Port               
Ken Robinson (3), D Cooney NSW      
  Leukaemia Foundation* Retired - at Port               
R Holstein (9) /S Kellie (2) NSW      
  Pachamama: Swiss TOP to TOP Global Climate Expedition Retired - at Port               
Dario Schwoerer Switzerland      
  Sanyo Maris* Retired - at Port               
Ian Kiernan (12) NSW      
  Somoya* Retired - at Port               
Garry Rose VIC      
  Georgia* Other               
VIC      
  Shogun* Disqualified               
Rob Hanna (3) VIC      

Notes


Ragtime - redress granted of 1 hour 55 minutes for standing by Georgia
Telcoinabox Merit - redress granted of 18 hours for assisting in the rescue of the crew of Georgia
Helsal III - rudder damage
Inner Circle - generator failed
Leukaemia Foundation - rudder damage
Sanyo Maris - broken gooseneck
Somoya - broken furler
Georgia - broken rudder - boat lost - crew rescued
Shogun - disqualified for breaches of RRS 11, 12 and 13
 

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350Zhik 2024 DecemberSea Sure 2025

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